GL Riders Two Wheeled Nomad (Jason Spafford and Lisa Morris) traveled The Americas for four years on their motorcycles, the past year-plus with Giant Loop gear after they realized that lighter and simpler is truly better! Here’s their photo essay featured in BIKE (UK) magazine’s latest January 2019 issue.

See links below to volunteer for Clean Drink Adventures trips in Spring 2019!

“Packing up our tents, the women of the community thanked us for coming, sharing in a night of good fun, and for the gift of the MSR SE200 Community Chlorine Maker. And that’s how it always should be. It’s not uncommon for some organizations to enter a village and foist their aid on unsuspecting locals. We offered the water system to the villagers and they eagerly accepted. They gained a useful tool and we received a wonderful night of hospitality we won’t soon forget.”

Hello Giant Loop,

We’re back from our trip to Nepal and happy to report it was a huge success. Our Clean Drink Adventures team was able to provide safe drinking water solutions to as many as 700 people during our travels. In the coming weeks our volunteers on the ground will bump that number closer to 2,000 in the coming weeks.

As we traveled into the remote corners of the country, our medic, Jason McKinney, packed all of his medical equipment in Giant Loop bags. Not only did he keep us safe, but he was available to help anyone in need during out travels.

Below are some fun images and snippits you can use for social media. In the meantime I’m working on gathering more assets you can use for promotions.

Thank you so much for sending them along and we’re stoked to have GL as a CLEAN DRINK partner.

Safe travels,
Christophe

Doing good as you go doesn’t always go as planned. While delivering safe drinking water solutions to remote communities in Nepal, our team medic Jason McKinny hit a slight rough patch. CLEAN DRINK ADVENTURES is a proud partner with Giant Loop. We use our bags to carry medical supplies and essentials to ensure our team is safe and our Nepali friends well cared for. You can join Giant Loop and CLEAN DRINK on the adventure of a lifetime. Spots are open for trips in the spring of 2019.

There is no better place to wake up than on the banks of a Himalayan river. Giant Loop is an essential part of CLEAN DRINK ADVENTURES trips in Nepal where they travel by motorbike to deliver safe drinking water solutions to rural communities. And you can be a part of the adventure. Join Giant Loop and CLEAN DRINK on the trip of a lifetime. Spots are open for March and May trips.

We’ve outfitted this Ducati Scrambler for a weekend, week or even extended long haul adventure motorcycle travel with our Giant Loop adventure proof packing system of soft luggage for motorcycles. Designed to fit virtually any motorcycle equipped with passenger pegs, the Great Basin Saddlebag mounts on the passenger seat, anchored to the passenger peg mounts and the rear “fender” assembly – no luggage racks, mounts or braces required. The Fandango Pro Tank Bag keeps smaller items like phone, camera, wallet and other essentials handy, while the Zigzag Handlebar Bag stores other small items within easy reach. We’ve added the Bushwackers Hand Guards, which strap over rigid deflectors to protect hands and controls from rain, cold, mud and brush. All it needs is a skid plate . . .

Weighs a fraction of other motorcycle soft luggage designs based on Giant Loop’s Great Basin Saddlebag, such as the Mosko Moto RECKLESS 80L SYSTEM (V2.0) – also trimmer, less complicated, fewer straps, cleaner, more minimalist, rugged and durable design, proven world wide since 2008.

Congratulations on 10 years!
Just last weekend I was out on my 2008 KTM530 with your original Giant Loop Saddlebag! Still works great and I’ve purchased others along the way.
Keep making quality products!

Giant Loop Pronghorn Straps Will Hold Your Chainsaw

Rider Chris Miksovsky of Humangear sent us these great shots of his 2015 KTM 350 EXCF with our Mojavi Saddlebags and Diablo Tank Bag. Chris also creatively uses the Pronghorn Straps to secure his chainsaw when doing trail maintenance – a testament to how much those straps can handle! Available in 5 lengths and two widths, the Pronghorn Straps are an item that we should all have tucked in a bag on our bikes. The strong and super-stretchy polyurethane straps can be used to secure all manner of items to motorcycles, ATVs, UTVs and Snowmobiles.

At Giant Loop we pride ourselves in knowing that our gear is getting put through the paces daily–in all sorts of weather conditions, around the world. Wolfgang, a Giant Loop rider from Austria sent us these great shots of his ride in Italy with friends on their KTMs. Their bikes were outfittted for light, fast day tripping and the Mojavi Saddlebags suited their needs perfectly.

Looks as though Europe is getting an early winter as well!

First of all thank you for your cooperation. We were very happy about it! –how important the Giant Loops are for us. This was now two weeks ago, where we climbed in the Italian region Piemont, using partially old military-roads and also “no ways”, up to a height over 3.200 meters!

Harold, whether it is sunshine, rain or snow, you “never walk alone” with the GLs.In the indoor area always dry as well as at minus degrees, the zipper can open loosely! In this sense a beautiful working week, warm greetings from the foggy Austria!

Round the World Panniers on a (super-sweet) KTM 990

He continues to use a Coyote Saddlebag on his WR but has swapped out the saddlebag for our RTW panniers on the 990, now outfitted with SW-Motech racks, for longer trips. He’ll now be able to add a dry bag in place of the Klamath Tail Rack Pack if he needs to further increase volume.

To see the entire article…and to brush up on your Spanish head to Juame’s website, www.traildreamer.com. The Google translate leaves a little to the imagination but you’ll get the gist.

“Very happy with my new panniers on first trip to isle of South Uist in the Hebrides.5 hours ride there in a monsoon and five hours back even wetter.Panniers fitted perfectly with 2 pronghorn straps and 2 heatshields,and never moved an inch.Tent and sleeping bag kept bone dry.Worth the money and the four week wait.”— Iain from Glasgow Scotland

KTM 1190 Adventure R and Giant Loop Siskiyou Panniers

KTM 1190 Adventure R and Giant Loop Siskiyou Panniers

KTM 1190 Adventure R and Giant Loop Siskiyou Panniers

Double Hot Springs heat shield to provide full coverage. Giant Loop now also carries the Heat Shield Grande for larger pipes. Notice that the Passenger handles have been removed to allow easy mounting of the Siskiyous.

“These ‘soft’ side bags are designed to offer the convenience and capacity (70 liters total) of hard panniers but with the rugged durability we’ve come to expect from the pioneering soft luggage company.”

Giant Loop Torngat Tunnel Bag and Tracker Packer on the Grand Canyon

“This spring I had the good fortune to spend 20 days in the Grand Canyon, rafting the Colorado River. On an expedition of that length in addition to ensuring you don’t run out of beer(we didn’t) or whiskey (we did), you want your gear to be durable and reliable.

I chose to take a Torngat Dry Bag as my smaller, accessible day bag. I kept all my extra clothing, drysuit, sun protection and snacks in it and the split interior helped me to organize and locate things easily. The multiple lash-down points on the exterior of the bag made it a favorite of the riggers – it was easy to get a good, solid cinch on the bag to ensure it stayed in the boat in even the gnarliest rapids. I also loved the reflective stripping on the bag which made it easy to locate (or not trip over) in the dark.

In addition to the Torngat I also took an assortment of saddlebag dry pods that that kept all my gear within my huge drybag sorted. The pods were great on the sandy and wet beach camps once the daily gear explosion happened when we got into camp.

Giant Loop Torngat bag at Nankoweap

Tracker Packer and PFD

Finally we took a Gen3 Spot and Tracker Packer – mainly to check in daily with family especially my Google Earth-obsessed father but also as a back up to the satellite phone that was required by parks service.”

Here’s a few bags at work. My fiancé is working out of town so I borrowed his rear fender bag and loved it!! Tool kit is awesome, stayed on like a champ on rough terrain and my Husky tool kit fit right in it. Of course my tank bag is awesome, the color goes well with my new graphics, ha ha and my camera fits in there perfect. First ride of the season, felt good to get back on the bike! Stoked for spring! Cheers! Donni

How to Pack a Small Motorcycle for BIG Adventure: Globe Crosser Steph Jeavons + Rhonda the Honda CRF250

“Oh my goodness! All packed up. Its been so long I nearly forgot how to do it! Time to move on again!” – Steph Jeavons, One Steph Beyond

Nearly a year ago, Giant Loop hosted world traveler Steph Jeavons here in Bend, Oregon for an evening slideshow of her travels on Rhonda the Honda CRF250L. While she was here we had the opportunity to upgrade her luggage and gear for another round of travel. Packing all of the essentials for months of living off a motorcycle presents challenges – especially with a relatively small bike like the Honda CRF250L. Small bikes are a specialty here at Giant Loop, and by using our modular, customizable adventure proof packing system, we were able to help Steph organize her gear into multiple small compartments, providing quick, easy access – and helping balance the load on both the front and rear of the bike.

TAIL OF HONDA CRF250L
* Great Basin Saddlebag: Fits virtually any motorcycle built to carry a passenger, anchoring to the passenger pegs and riding on the passenger seat.
* 2 x Possibles Pouches: Tool, tubes and other gear kept handy with external pockets designed to integrate with Giant Loop’s Great Basin, Coyote and MoJavi Saddlebags – and used independently as universal tool and gear pouches.
* Columbia Dry Bag: A large bag for a small bike, but Giant Loop’s double-ended Dry Bags come in three sizes for all bike types and packing options.

FRONT OF HONDA CRF250L
* Fandango Pro Tank Bag: Roomy enough for cameras and essential gear, trim enough for off-road riding while standing on the foot pegs.
* Pannier Pockets: Integrate with Giant Loop’s Tank Bag Harness – and can be used independently – to extend gear carry capacity to the front of the bike.
* Fender Bag: A spare tube or other relatively small, lightweight essential strap onto the plastic fenders of most dirt bikes – and Giant Loop’s Fender Bag stays on, even in the roughest riding.

Giant Loop sponsored these his and hers motorcycle inspired fashions in the Rubbish Renewed Eco Fashion Show last night in Bend. Our friend Mayra Aguilar Stearns designed these playful outfits from fabric remnants, damaged Saddlebags and Panniers and other reclaimed and salvaged materials. Standing to the right, the model is wearing a design created from used motorcycle inner tubes, sponsored by The Motoshop. The show is a fundraiser for the REALMS (Rimrock Expeditionary Alternative Learning Middle School).

“I finally got a chance to camp with my new Coyote Roll Top Saddlebag and Buckin’ Roll Tank Bag. It’s easily the best setup I have ever owned for dual sport and I’ve damn near owned them all at this point. Can’t wait to see where you guys go with your items in the future. I can say, please keep making roll tops, and please keep the current dry bags. Really awesome features in my opinion. I noticed all the straps are about as twice as thick as any other brand I have used as well. I beat my bike to death and none of this stuff ever moved. The saddlebags already have a few drops on them and I ran into a tree with the right side too. Can’t even see a mark on it anywhere. I also noticed I can put the saddlebags super far back. I never noticed it touching my butt or back the entire time, even riding whoops standing up, and this is with a hydration pack on. This is probably the first time I’ve camped with a setup and didn’t come home not liking something about it. Seriously, can’t sing enough praises.“

“In these photos, I am packed with everything needed to tent camp basically indefinitely off the bike. I love that everything is in one place and not in 3 or 4 different bags strapped awkwardly on the back of the bike. Very clean.”

Steph Jeavons has taken her Honda CRF250L further than any 250cc has been before, so far having ridden to 40 countries and covered over 55,000 miles! In March, we hosted her slide show presentation and her bike Rhonda here in Bend, Oregon. While she was here, Giant Loop had the opportunity to lighten her motorcycle and upgrade Rhonda the Honda CRF250L with our waterproof, adventure proof motorcycle soft luggage packing system: Great Basin Saddlebag, Tillamook Dry Bag, Fandango Pro Tank Bag, Possibles Pouches, Pannier Pockets and Pronghorn Straps. Go light! Go fast! Go Far!

From her website and blog:Steph Jeavons set off from the Ace Cafe in 2014 to circumnavigate the world. She is still going, and apparently, happily lost!

Steph has been around motorbikes most of her life with both parents and one of her two sisters riding as well. Her grandmother even rode bikes during the war! Steph herself has been riding since the age of 21. I think you can safely say it’s in the blood. In 2008 she set up her own off-road motorcycle school in the UK as well as desert tours in Morocco alongside the British Dakar rider Mick Extance.

Steph has ridden across the Atlas mountains and in the Sahara five times. She has crossed the US coast-to-coast four times, got muddy in Wales with names like John McGuinness and, just once, nearly punched Carl Fogarty in the face! Steph also worked with Nick Sanders setting up his expedition centre in Machynlleth.

She left all this excitement behind to pursue her dream of riding her motorcycle to all seven continents – solo!

‘I’m certainly no expert and I don’t confess to being a demon on two wheels. This adventure isn’t about speed. It’s not really even about the bike. It’s about living, learning and enjoying! Doing this trip solo on a bike just opens up all the senses and allows me to be part of my environment.’

Steph has taken her Honda CRF250L further than any 250cc has been before, so far having ridden to 40 countries and covered over 55,000 miles! Steph has survived extreme heat, freezing conditions, landslides and wind that blew her off her bike in Patagonia. She has camped, couch-surfed and stayed with fellow bikers along the way whilst avoiding the main roads and sticking to the dirt where possible. She touched down and rode her motorbike on Antarctica in February 2015 after successfully crossing the notoriously rough Drake Passage in a small sailing yacht.

Steph has given inspirational talks to motorcycle shows, groups and communities along the way. She also currently writes for Ride Magazine and ADV Moto as she continues her journey around the world on her little dirt bike named Rhonda.

Honda Africa Twin with Fandango Pro Tank and Great Basin Saddlebag

When Rox Speed FX owner Chris took his new Honda Africa Twin for an adventure motorcycle tour this past summer, he chose Giant Loop’s Fandango Pro Tank Bag and Great Basin Saddlebag for his trip – and he sent us some great pics! You’ll notice that the large passenger handles on the Honda Africa Twin create a space between the pillion seat and the bottom or the Great Basin Saddlebag – a perfect spot to stow away an extra layer or additional riding gear.

Adventure Trio Takes On Mexico

Terry, Sandy and Jack Borden, deemed The Adventure Trio, travelled from their home in California to the tip of South America on BMW R1200GS and F800GS Adventure Bikes. The adventure took 2 years and took them over 28,000 miles of incredible terrain. They were recently featured in BMW Owners News Magazine in a story written by Sandy about their first border crossing into Mexico.

Dream Roll 2016 Success Album

To say the Dream Roll 2016 was a success would be a gross understatement. Between motorcycle camping with no boys allowed, bike rides to waterfalls, tattoos in tents, free beer, and the biggest group of badass women you’ve ever seen, this weekend is one we’ll never be able to forget, even if we tried. It took place on the Flying L Ranch near Mount Adams, Washington from August 12-14 with about 200 women in attendance. Here’s a small peek into the best trip of the year:

Giant Loop intern, Sydney, about to set off to Washington on the Honda CB500X

Took a dip in the John Day River on the roasting ride out

Filling up at Glenwood Gas Station right next to home base before setting out for the day

I packed all my clothes and food into the Dry Pods in the Great Basin, my sleeping bag, pad and sheath into the Tillamook, spare tools in the Possibles, and phone, camera, GoPro, water, and snacks into the Diablo, all packed nice and tidy on the Honda. Everything was secure the whole ride, not a single issue; the weight was nice and low, too, so I wasn’t being thrown around in the wind or thrown off balance in the beautiful Washington twisties.

The tank bag, I realized, is deceivingly large. As the smallest of the tank bags Giant Loop offers, I was skeptical, but only until I tried it. It fit my DSLR camera, phone, wallet, snacks, headphones, water bottle, AND GoPro all at once with no problem. We stopped at a gas station where I got more snacks and another water bottle, before I realized I didn’t think I had any room left. But I was wrong, I ended up fitting everything in without even straining the zipper!

Another unexpected savior was the sleeping sheath. I don’t have a tent, so I posted up in a hammock and sleeping bag under the trees, with the sleeping sheath still in the Great Basin, since I thought I wouldn’t need it. Then a fat bug fell onto me from the tree I was under, and I ran for the sheath! I zipped it up and over me and my sleeping bag, folded the top back so the mesh was over my face instead, and I swung under the stars and watched the meteor shower without fear of bugs falling on my face. It’s super lightweight, takes up almost no space, and keeps the critters out.

Motorcycle camping with 200 women > any other camping

The Gravel Gang makes it to Dog Creek Falls

I met some of the absolute raddest chicks this weekend! Shout out to Ria the Welder who welds AMAZING custom sissy bars. Check out her Instagram to see her work. Then there’s Killer Kelly, who makes t-shirts that say “Support Badass Babes” and sells them on her Instagram. She’s just starting out, so message her and order a tee for only $16, and watch as she grows into an operation that sponsors badass babes in their badass adventures. Another shout out to Hinterland Empire and Wasted Times for some super cool women selling some super cool gear.

Thanks to all the sponsors, including Women’s Moto Exhibit, and everyone involved for organizing the experience of a lifetime. This is only the second year the Dream Roll has been put on, so there are many more to come! This weekend getaway is one for the books and one that we’re all going to come back to again and again. I’ve been riding for 5 years now, but never got the true biker experience by being part of a community of motorcyclists outside my dad and brother. But after this weekend I’ve found my motorcycle community and finally consider myself to be a real biker. Thanks to all the amazing ladies who rode out and made the weekend an unforgettable event. Happy riding!

Whether you need the whole kit or just a few pieces, Giant Loop has you covered. The GL Cooking System Complete Kit includes these integrated components to provide an ultralight, super compact “go light, go fast, go far” camping culinary solution from the backyard to the backcountry.

Giant Loop Camping Essentials

David Schelske dual sport camping on KTM 500 EXC

At Giant Loop we’ve got you covered for all of your camping needs. Between headlamps, folding chairs, and survival kits, you’ll always be prepared when riding up to your campsite during either day or night. No matter where you’re going, Giant Loop helps you go light, go fast, go far.

The Tour of Idaho is a 1400+ mile dirt road journey from Utah to British Columbia, designed for solo riders and small groups. Jimmy explains the ride on his website. The trail is for plated dirt bikes, not so much for dual sports, although there is a route available that is shorter and more dual sport friendly. “The Tour encompasses extremes of elevation (1,486′ to 10,420′) and climate. It crests 10,000′ three times and 9,000 feet a dozen times more. Technical challenges include mud, snow, extensive sections of technical single track, rocky trails, numerous water crossings and deep sand. Navigational issues abound. The Tour is in no way a casual undertaking. Yet the variety of plants, animals and geological features found along the way is amazing. The riding is varied, challenging and always interesting. It’s fun even when it’s really hard. If you are the type of person who feels comfortable rebuilding a bike in the middle of nowhere (with a bear watching) or lashing logs together to cross a swollen creek, the Tour may be for you.”

There is a 45-minute video documentary of the ride, but it is not available for public viewing just yet. You can check out his YouTube channel for other great videos until the new one is released.

Dirtbike Test has a short article about the ride as well, where the video may be available for some.